The National Police Agency announced on Thursday that it took action against 1,322 people under the age of 20 last year for crimes linked to tokuryū, anonymous and transient criminal groups. These organizations involved youths in offenses such as fraud and theft.
The National Police Agency (NPA) reported on Thursday that police took action against 1,322 people under the age of 20 last year for crimes linked to tokuryū, anonymous and transient criminal groups. Among them, 425 were involved in fraud, 247 in thefts, and 200 in drug offenses.
Those involved in robberies numbered 116, accounting for about 40% of all suspects in tokuryū-linked robbery cases, including adults.
An NPA official stated that those behind such groups seemed to assign high-risk roles of being caught to people under 20, 'effectively treating them as disposable.'
Tokuryū groups operate via social media and are associated with crimes including fraud, drugs, gambling, and casinos. The NPA's announcement highlights the involvement of teens in these gangs, though specific preventive measures were not detailed in the report.
